How to apply for an italian passport while living in Italy

Obtaining Italian citizenship is an important milestone and opens up numerous opportunities. Once citizenship has been recognized or acquired and residency has been established in Italy, one of the most common next steps is to apply for an Italian passport. But where should the application be submitted, and which documents are required? It can certainly be helpful to understand how the procedure works for applying for or renewing an Italian passport when living in Italy.

The italian passport

The Italian passport is one of the main advantages of holding Italian citizenship. This document not only serves as an official form of identification but also allows its holder to travel abroad with great ease. Italian citizens can enter more than 130 countries without needing to apply for a visa.

In addition, Italian citizens have the right to live, work, and study freely in all countries of the European Union.

The Italian passport has a standard validity of 10 years for adults. To ensure a higher level of security, it contains an electronic microchip integrated into the cover, which stores the holder’s personal data along with biometric information such as a photograph and fingerprints. This technology also allows travelers to use automated gates at airports during border control.

Where to submit the application

Those who live permanently in Italy must submit their passport application in the province or municipality of residence. By contrast, Italian citizens who live abroad must apply through the Italian consulate responsible for their territory.

It is important to remember that those living outside Italy must be registered with AIRE (the Registry of Italians Residing Abroad). Without this registration, it is not possible to access consular services, including passport applications.

Applying for a passport at the police headquarters (Questura)

For residents in Italy, the main office responsible for issuing passports is the Questura, the local headquarters of the State Police.

In most cases, it is necessary to book an appointment through the State Police’s dedicated online passport portal. To access the system, users must authenticate using SPID (the Public Digital Identity System) or the Electronic Identity Card (CIE). Some police headquarters also offer specific days or time slots for walk-in applications without an appointment, but this option varies from city to city.

Because some procedures may vary slightly from one Questura to another, it is always advisable to consult the official website of the State Police or that of your local Questura to verify the updated list of required documents.

When the passport is ready, you will receive an email notification. The document can be collected directly at the Questura or, in some areas, delivered to your home through the “Passport at Home” service managed by Poste Italiane.

Applying for a passport at the post office

In recent years, it has also become possible to apply for or renew a passport through certain offices of Poste Italiane. However, this service is not available in all municipalities.

To use this option, you must:

• be a resident in the municipality where the post office is located

• book an appointment online through the Poste Italiane website using SPID or a Poste account

During the appointment at the counter, you must present the same documents required by the Questura. The postal operator will collect the documentation and forward it to the competent police office for processing.

Once the passport is ready, it must be collected at the Questura indicated on the receipt provided by the post office.

Italian passports for minors

Minors can also obtain an Italian passport, but the validity of the document varies depending on age:

• 3 years of validity for children aged 0 to 3

• 5 years of validity for minors aged 3 to 18

In addition, the consent of both parents is required. They must sign the application in front of a public official at the time the request is submitted.

Applying for an Italian passport while living in Italy is generally a straightforward procedure, especially if all the necessary documents are prepared in advance and the appointment is properly scheduled. With an Italian passport in hand, you can travel with greater freedom and fully benefit from the rights guaranteed by Italian citizenship and membership in the European Union.

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The content of this article is intended to provide general information on the topic. For doubts or specific cases, it is advisable to seek specialized legal advice tailored to your particular situation.

Article written by Alessia Ajelli, Managing Associate of LCA Studio Legale, Italian lawyer specialized on Italian immigration and citizenship law, and Paolo Grassi, Trainee of LCA Studio Legale.